Week 3 Homework: Perfect Modals

Hi there! Here’s the weekly homework assignment for my students. As usual, everyone is welcome to participate, even if you’re not in my class.

(And before we continue, yes, that picture above is for real. I saw this guy in Germany a few years ago. I can’t believe I forgot I took that picture–I should have remembered, since it’s awesome!)

In our class we started talking about Perfect Modalstoday. We’ll be working with them a lot in class and out of class, but if you’re not my student, you may be lost–and you may be lost even if you are my student!

A little while ago I wrote a longer post about perfect modals, including explanations, examples, and songs. You can find that post here. I’d recommend reading that if you are confused, but if you still have questions afterwards, just tell me.

Now, for the homework assignment. Since that post had a lot of songs and music videos, it inspired me for this week’s assignment.

WEEK 3 HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:

1. Find a video for a song that you like on YouTube or a similar site. Include the link in your comment (the video should appear in your comment, but if not, make sure the link works so your classmates and I can check it out, too). The video can just be the song (not an “official” music video), but if there is a video, it might be easier to complete the assignment. The song doesn’t need to use perfect modals, but it will be easiest for you if there is a kind of “story” or “narrative” in your video. You can also include any other information you wish, like an explanation of why you chose the song or video.

2. Then, based on the video and/or the song lyrics, write at least 5 of your reactions to the video, being sure to use at least 5 perfect modals. Try to use different ones, and include a bit of context/additional information to explain each of your examples.

That’s it. I’ll also try to include an example in the comments. If you have questions, just tell me. Good luck!

Sitzman

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29 Comments

Here’s an example, using a “classic” song from when I was just a little “Sitzling”:

I chose it because we were talking about the concept of a “guilty pleasure” in class on Monday, and liking this song is a perfect example of that idea.

Here are some perfect modals about the video:

1. The singer must have had a cold (or must have been doing cocaine) since he kept wiping his nose.

2. The singers’ mothers may have felt embarrassed that their sons made this awful video.

3. The girl in the video should have called the police, since the man could have been a serial killer. He could have been hiding a shotgun–or even a cannon–in that enormous jacket.

4. Their dance moves might have been impressive in 1988, but today they just look silly.

5. The girl should have given the guy a fake phone number.

6. They could have avoided the whole problem if the guy had just given the girl his number, too. Then she wouldn’t have had to wait at home for him to call. (Fun fact: 87% of the 1980s was spent reading magazines and drinking wine while you waited for someone to call you.)

7. I probably should have chosen a better song, since this one is pretty embarrassing.

First of all he guy of the jewelry store shouldn’t have left his spot, because he had nothing to do with the matter.
The guy of the jewelry store should have closed the door after he come out of the store, he should have been more carefully.
The beautiful girl shouldn’t have taken part on the plan, she could have hurt for real in the fake accident.
They should have covered their faces, because there were security cameras in the jewelry store.
They could have been caught by the police if their plan had failed.
Now based on the lyrics, the singer shouldn’t have hurt the feelings of his/her couple, that way they still be together and he/she doesn’t feel sorry.

Nice one! I’d not actually seen that video, but I’d definitely heard the song before. You have some good examples, and the grammar is good in nearly all of them. Just a few comments:

-probably say “the guy from the jewelry store,” not of
-the girl could have been hurt (here it’s passive) or “the driver could have hurt her” (active) –that’s actually the topic we’ll be looking at next
-for the last one, the “the singer shouldn’t have hurt the feelings of his partner (“couple”=two people), that way they might/would/could still be together and he wouldn’t feel sorry

That last point is a bit beyond what we’ve studied so far, and we’ll be talking about it more in level 10. So, all in all, great work!

I chose this song, because Hilary Duff has been one of my favorite singers since I was a little girl, and this song is so cute for me!

1. She should have waken up earlier and take a taxi, instead of just walking to work in a hurry. She could have had an accident beacuse of that!

2. She could have gotten a better job, with more energetic people, cause they all look so bored, and tired.

3. She shouldn´t have read the magazine with the “hot guy” on the cover, because she started thinking about how her life would be with the guy at the beach, and she didn’t care about her job so much. She was just thinking about the guy!

4. She should have been more conscious about what she was doing at her job, instead of just “being in love” with the magazine´s guy.

5. She could have bought another magazine or a book, and avoid all those problems that she had in her job, because of the “magazine´s guy”.

I choose this video because already meatloaf was one of my favorite artist.
i remember when i was a child used hear this cain of music.
i think this activity was very interesting for me, i already enjoyed it.
1. I think the singer could have sung for a long time since he has a great voice.
2. He must have had a lot of famous friends, as in the video was Angelina Jolie.
3. About the younger he should not have been in the car with the wrong people.
4. The singer should have given the message a more people.
5. The girl may have been lost searching help to find at herself.
6. About the young could not have return at home without him.

-Don’t forget to capitalize “I” (unless you’re Steve Jobs)
-cain–> kind
-#2 – as–> because (and I think this is before Angelina Jolie was famous)
-#3 and #6 – “young” is an adjective, so you could say “young boy” or something similar
-#4 – a–> to
-#6 – return –> returned

Nice work! Meat Loaf is excellent, even if he’s weird and his videos are bizarre! 🙂
Ryan

Well i choose that song cause is one of my favourites, I think love is one of the strongest feelings or maybe the most strong in the world, also Ziggy Marley is one of my favourites singers and finally I love the sea , the big sunshines and the well formed waves! (Y)

1- He should have worn sunglasses , cause is a real sunnyday.

2-The guy asking for money should have started working, if he want to stop ask for tips.

3-Ziggy could have been more careful while standing on those rocks, he can fall into the sea.

4- The minivan driver should have been really cautious while drving , I guess that guy is really high,so he can run over a person or have a big crash.

5- Ziggy might have kissed the ladie next to the bonfire , she’s so good-looking!

Thanks,this is an interesting kind of homework! Again sorry for comment late, by the way is better late than never !! Thumbs Up!!

Nice work. Just a few comments:
-For #3, I think you mean he should have been more careful because he could have fallen into the sea, right?
-Same with #4: he could have run over or crashed since in both of these cases, it’s a different (unreal) possible result.
-For #5, it’s “lady,” and the plural is “ladies.”

Hi.
I Choose this song because I like a lot this group and also the song is very interesting, because allows us to analayse differents situations that happen in the worl, as domestic assault, violence, prostitution and child abductions.

The first scene
☆The Man shouldn’t have beaten the woman.
☆The Man Could have thought the things better.
☆The Woman must have died for all strokes.
☆The boy should have called the police.
☆The boy might have cried for a long time before that he saw all problem.
The boy may have had a Psychological Trauma.

The Second scene.
☆The Girl could have studied at the school after the practiced the Prostitution.
☆The man could have been arrested for the police, because is ilegal to pay for sex with young people.
☆The Girl might have been killed for all man’s.
☆The woman with baby could have been more careful with him.
Nowadays is very common in the World that people lost forever, for different reasons, the most popular is the Abductions in babies, childs, young peole and adult people.

Good! I remember this song. I’m not sure if it’s true, but I think I remember hearing that at least some of the kids on this video were actually found because of the publicity that was gained through their pictures being included.

For the perfect modals, they’re mostly good, but there are a few that are a bit strange, mainly “The girl might have been killed for all man’s” (Don’t forget the plurals of man, woman, and child…) and “The woman must have died for all strokes.”
Do you mean she could have been killed or she could have died?
Also, for the one with the baby, you probably mean that the mom should have been more careful, since she wasn’t careful.

Hi Ryan.
The articles is great, the second article is very long, was a bit difficult for me, because some words I don’t understand but I looked it up in the dictionary and I could understand all. I read both, that information is very interesting for me, and also I Think that Elizabeth was very lucky dog because that was a miracle.

the song I choose is florescent adolescent by the arctic monkeys
great British band.. this is one of their first hits , the video have funny things, and the instrumental is awesome.
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma9I9VBKPiw

-i think they should have used more actors in the scenes.

-the green hair clown could have been more happy at the end haha.

-some clowns should have had bats of baseball to add more action.

-they last guy in the car must have gotten burn because now looks like big piece of coal.

-the poor dummy they throw to the sea must have gotten wet ……because still dripping some water.

I chose that one because talk about New York. I want to go to the US next year and and as the song says it inspires me to work in that. Following the “American dream” if it is possible and know NYC haha !!

-Jay Z must have been lived in NY all his life. He said he has live in Brooklyn and TriBeCa.

-Jay Z must have thought that NY is the best city of the world. He said very good things about NY (and other things not too much good)

-Alicia might have known Jay Z for many years ago. They look very good friends.

-Jay Z should have talked about other cities, US have spectacular cities.

-They could filmed a part of the video in the Statue of the Liberty, ’cause it is a symbol not only for NY, of all the US.

I choose this song because “The Killers” is one of my favorites bands and this song was the first song that I heard from them, also the video represents a story that means a lot for me. So I hope you enjoy.

-She shouldn’t have married with him. Maybe she was very young to marry.

-She could have been happy if she didn’t marry with him.

-He might have been drunk when he was unfaithful with the other girl. He didn’t think very well.

-She must not have forgiven him. He doesn’t deserve the that she love him.

-She should have gone to another country or place. I think that should have been a good way to forget that guy.

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